Cooper
Overview
This company was founded in 1894 to make a large traction engine, designed by Tom Cooper. The idea of making motorcars appealed to Cooper and he designed a 2-cylinder 2-stroke gearbox and further chain drive to the rear wheels. The production Cooper which was ready for the 1909 Olympia Show, had a 3260cc 4-cylinder engine, also a 2-stroke with piston valves, shaft drive to the 3-speed gearbox and to the rear wheels. An auxiliary gearbox close to the rear axle gave a total of six forward speeds.
Only six Coopers were made, each differing in detail from the other. One had a longer wheelbase to accommodate a large limousine body. A tourer survives today, and is kept by the Cooper Roller Bearing Co. Ltd, descendants of Tom Cooper's company.